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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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College Readiness Of Freshman Students From Inner-City Schools, Shanitra Jones Barnes Jan 2021

College Readiness Of Freshman Students From Inner-City Schools, Shanitra Jones Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem that exists in higher education is that many students are not college and career ready. Many students enter college without being academically prepared to succeed. The purpose of this study was to explore the academic college readiness barriers and supports of freshmen college students from a Midwestern inner-city college. The conceptual framework of this study was Bourdieu’s social capital theory. The research questions address what college freshmen who graduated from inner-city public high schools perceive to be the barriers and necessary supports to reaching their academic goals. The basic interpretive research design was used to investigate the problem …


An Educational Intervention To Reduce Central Venous Catheter Infection Rates, Bolanle Olajuyigbe Jan 2021

An Educational Intervention To Reduce Central Venous Catheter Infection Rates, Bolanle Olajuyigbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCentral venous catheters (CVC) are essential in both critical and noncritical care settings. Despite benefits such as the administration of medications, blood products, and parenteral nutrition, CVCs are also associated with infections known as central–line associated blood stream infections (CLABSI). Linked to knowledge deficit and noncompliance in following evidence-based care bundles by nurses, it is important that nurses are empowered through education to provide quality care to reduce CLABSI rates. Thus, a staff education program was developed to answer the practice-focus question: if an organized education program increases the knowledge of medical-surgical nurses on central line care and management procedures …


Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In Two-Year Radiologic Technology Programs, Billie Jo Huffstetler Jan 2021

Students' Perceptions Of Persistence In Two-Year Radiologic Technology Programs, Billie Jo Huffstetler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obtaining a health care degree benefits individuals and society; however, 2-year radiologic technology programs in a metropolitan area of the southern United States continue to struggle with student persistence from enrollment to graduation. Exploring student persistence is important to college administrators, faculty, and students because of the predicted growth in the profession of radiologic technology. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of their experiences at the local college that encouraged them to persist to graduation or quit attending. Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory and Bean and Metzner's nontraditional undergraduate attrition model served as the …


Increasing Employee Motivation Through Job Satisfaction And Empowerment, Alicia Banks Myers Jan 2021

Increasing Employee Motivation Through Job Satisfaction And Empowerment, Alicia Banks Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders with high employee dissatisfaction have excessive absenteeism, complaints, and attrition, leading to low employee motivation. Dissatisfied employees are directly linked to customer dissatisfaction, resulting in decreased sales revenue. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation–hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore motivation strategies that three department store managers have used to increase job satisfaction and empowerment in a retail store in South Carolina. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents, including employee handbooks, strategic plans, and business forecasts. The three primary themes that emerged using thematic analysis were (a) effective leadership attributes, (b) understanding …


Effect Of Professional Exclusion Among Respiratory Therapists In The Icu, Tiffany Lubken Jan 2021

Effect Of Professional Exclusion Among Respiratory Therapists In The Icu, Tiffany Lubken

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to test how social exclusion, experienced through a culture of healthcare hierarchy, influenced the feelings/attitudes of respiratory therapists (RTs) who are excluded from discussions of end-of-life (EOL) care. Data analysis was conducted using a multivariate analysis of variance to address the research questions. A quantitative nonexperimental survey research design incorporating four evidence-based surveys was used. There was no significance found between professional exclusion from EOL care discussions and the abilities of RTs to collaborate with intensive care unit (ICU) team members within the shared decision-making model as it relates to providing care in the ICU. There …


Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games And Their Effects On Life Satisfaction And Social Skills, Heidi Mccreary Jan 2021

Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games And Their Effects On Life Satisfaction And Social Skills, Heidi Mccreary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adult massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) gaming is a popular trend that is often perceived negatively, including having a lack of social adaptation skills and low life satisfaction. This quantitative study explored whether life satisfaction and social skills were influenced by gaming by comparing MMORPG gamers (casual and avid) and nongamers. This quantitative survey study was built upon the limitations listed in previous research. The hypothesis was that there would be no difference between MMORPG gamers and nongamers regarding life satisfaction and social skills. To conceptualize the influence MMORPG may have, this study used Diener’s conceptualization of the pursuit …


Small Business Hair Salon Owners Effective Marketing Strategies, Tammy Lorraine Riley Jan 2021

Small Business Hair Salon Owners Effective Marketing Strategies, Tammy Lorraine Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe hair salon industry is one of the largest employers in the United States; however, only 80% of small business hair salon owners survive longer than five years. Small business salon owners who fail to implement effective marketing strategies are at a higher risk of failure. Grounded in Porter’s five forces model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore marketing strategies small business hair salon owners use to sustain their business beyond five years. The participants comprised five small business hair salon owners in Jacksonville, Florida, who effectively used marketing strategies to sustain their business beyond …


Mental Health Disparities In Social Work Practice Of Minority Youth Offenders, Beverly Ann Rivera Jan 2021

Mental Health Disparities In Social Work Practice Of Minority Youth Offenders, Beverly Ann Rivera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA large number of minority youths placed in the juvenile justice system across the United States have mental health disorders. Most of these youths do not receive mental health services or support within the system, which increases risk factors such as undiagnosed and untreated mental illness and adverse outcomes such as recidivism. This action research sought to uncover whether mental health disparities in social work practice in the juvenile justice system were due to race and ethnicity and asked social workers to recommend strategies to improve mental health availability, access, and provision. Participants in the study were social workers who …


Strategies Project Managers Use That Reduce Information Technology Project Failures In The Insurance Industry, Jamarcus Snipes Jan 2021

Strategies Project Managers Use That Reduce Information Technology Project Failures In The Insurance Industry, Jamarcus Snipes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The worldwide failure rate of information technology (IT) projects is approximately 65%. Insurance project managers who fail to successfully implement IT projects negatively impact organizational performance and profitability. Grounded in the management by objectives theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies project managers use to reduce IT project failures in the insurance industry. The participants comprised four IT project managers in Alabama who successfully used strategies to reduce IT project failures in the insurance industry. Data were collected from virtual semistructured interviews, company documents, existing literature, and journal notes. Thematic analysis was used to …


Strategies For Retaining Organizational Knowledge From Retiring Employees, Deborah Ann Tauro Jan 2021

Strategies For Retaining Organizational Knowledge From Retiring Employees, Deborah Ann Tauro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Risk management business leaders face eminent knowledge loss from retiring senior leaders if written succession strategies are not in place. Grounded in the organizational knowledge creation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the succession strategies used by risk management leaders to retain tacit knowledge from retiring senior leaders. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with five risk management leaders in Florida, organizational succession plans, and reports from organizational knowledge transfer programs. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: organizational knowledge transfer, knowledge management-succession planning, knowledge retention, and generational knowledge transfer. A key …


Strategies For Implementing Internet Of Things Devices In Manufacturing Environments, Todd Efrain Hernandez Jan 2021

Strategies For Implementing Internet Of Things Devices In Manufacturing Environments, Todd Efrain Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been exploited as a threat vector for cyberattacks in manufacturing environments. Manufacturing industry leaders are concerned with cyberattacks because of the associated costs of damages and lost production for their organizations. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies electrical controls engineers use to implement secure IoT devices in manufacturing environments. The study participants were eight electrical controls engineers working in three separate manufacturing facilities located in the Midwest region of the United States. The data were collected by semistructured interviews and 15 organizational documents. …


Educating Clinicians In A Nursing Facility To Proactively Manage Urinary Tract Infections, Setha Joseph Jan 2021

Educating Clinicians In A Nursing Facility To Proactively Manage Urinary Tract Infections, Setha Joseph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractUrinary tract infections (UTIs) have been identified as the most common reason for hospital visits among adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the prevalence of UTIs in long-term care facilities ranges from 20%-50%. The purpose of this staff education project was to implement an educational program to increase staff knowledge of proactive management of urinary tract health with the ultimate goal of reducing acute illnesses at the skilled nursing facility (SNF). Knowles theory of adult learning informed curriculum development and Kirkpatrick's levels of training evaluation guided program evaluation. The project team planned, developed, implemented, and evaluated …


Competition And Technical Efficiency For General Medical And Surgical Hospitals In Georgia, Nathan Ekow Davies Jan 2021

Competition And Technical Efficiency For General Medical And Surgical Hospitals In Georgia, Nathan Ekow Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary aim of this study was to enhance understanding of the fundamental socioeconomic problem associated with inefficient hospital competition in the United States in terms of demand and supply of services as well as the efficiency of hospitals. The relationship between market competition and hospital efficiency was investigated among general medical and surgical hospitals in Georgia. The X-efficiency theory was used which defines efficiency as the degree of effectiveness that an organization can maintain while operating in imperfect competition. The theory is most applicable in terms of addressing imperfect market characteristics of the healthcare industry. Correlations between efficiency and …


Women’S Reflections On Learning 10 Years After A Middle School Stem Program, Susan Mary Caley Opsal Jan 2021

Women’S Reflections On Learning 10 Years After A Middle School Stem Program, Susan Mary Caley Opsal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of understanding of how women perceive their learning continues to hinder efforts to design educational experiences that prepare women for STEM disciplines. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore women’s perceptions of their learning from a middle school STEM program a decade earlier and other learning experiences they had into their adulthood. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 of 26 women who participated in that STEM program when they were in middle school. Belenky et al.’s women’s ways of knowing provided a unique lens for examining participants’ understanding of their development as learners. Key findings …


State Consent Policies And The Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Among Nonfederal Acute Care Hospitals In The United States, Adetoro Kafilat Longe Jan 2021

State Consent Policies And The Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Among Nonfederal Acute Care Hospitals In The United States, Adetoro Kafilat Longe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The less-than-nationwide use of electronic health record (EHR) systems to send, receive, and integrate (SRI) patient summary of care (PSC) records limits the ability of hospital administrators to maximize efficiency and improve quality in the continuum of care. Despite obvious differences in state health information exchange (HIE) consent policies, there is no known research that has determined if and what aspects of state-level HIE legislation affect the use of EHR systems to SRI PSC records. Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional research study was to examine the relationship …


Exploring The Value Of Technology Within Cross-Departmental Communications, Brian J. Luckey Jan 2021

Exploring The Value Of Technology Within Cross-Departmental Communications, Brian J. Luckey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While many midsized businesses have invested in technology to support business operations, most have not realized the potential value of using technology to collaborate cross-departmentally. There is a lack of knowledge concerning strategies for using technology to facilitate effective organizational communications, which has resulted in operating technology investments being made without corresponding investments in communication technologies. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to fill the knowledge gap concerning the impact of technology for cross-departmental communications. The theoretical foundation for this study was based on systems theory, organizational theory, and stakeholder theory. The key research question involved the impact …


Military Wives’ Perspectives Of The Impact Of Deployment On Marital Satisfaction, Karla A. Morton Jan 2021

Military Wives’ Perspectives Of The Impact Of Deployment On Marital Satisfaction, Karla A. Morton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the inception of the Global War on Terror in 2001, over one and a half million United States military soldiers have deployed overseas to combat zones. Consequently, soldiers and their spouses have undergone numerous psychological challenges as well as a shift in the marital dynamics during a deployment. Difficulties in relationships created by the demands of deployment may lead to the dissolution of a marriage. Hence, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the impact of military deployment on marital satisfaction as experienced by military spouses. This study was grounded in the family systems theory and involved …


Educator Perceptions Of Restorative Justice Practices That Provide Academic Support For Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brigid Sullivan Ripley Jan 2021

Educator Perceptions Of Restorative Justice Practices That Provide Academic Support For Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brigid Sullivan Ripley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) has been of interest to scholars since the late 1990s when their impact on life outcomes concerning physical and mental health was first acknowledged. Educators are challenged to support students who have experienced ACE, but many have implemented alternative practices such as restorative justice (RJ) to support students’ academic needs. There is insufficient empirical evidence to determine how elements of RJ support high school students who have experienced ACE. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the RJ practices that teachers, administrators, and other school personnel have implemented to support …


Inclusion Of Students With Moderate Intellectual Disabilities In The General Education Setting, Danielle E. Jania Jan 2021

Inclusion Of Students With Moderate Intellectual Disabilities In The General Education Setting, Danielle E. Jania

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, states have been interested in the amount of time students with moderate intellectual disabilities spend being educated in the general education environment. Students with moderate intellectual disabilities at a suburban high school in Illinois consistently spend more than 80% of their educational time in the special education environment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the self-efficacy of secondary school co-teachers at the local level to support the academic needs of students with moderate intellectual disabilities in the general education classroom. The theory of teacher self-efficacy provided the conceptual framework for this study. The self-efficacy …


Exploring African American Women’S Transition From High School To A Postsecondary Setting, Keniesha Johnson Jan 2021

Exploring African American Women’S Transition From High School To A Postsecondary Setting, Keniesha Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American women encounter obstacles that diminish the effectiveness of mental health treatment received through postsecondary school-based service. Consequently, there is a reduction in the population’s socioeconomic outcomes. The purpose of the study was to increase awareness of the mental health treatment experience of African American women and identify strategies that would be helpful to prepare African American women for the postsecondary setting. Black feminist theory was used to guide the research questions for the study, which examined the experiences of African American female students and identified strategies used by certified school social workers, that African American women thought prepared …


Impact Of A Standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, And Recommendation Tool On Satisfaction And Communication In The Perioperative Area, Salomy Abraham Jan 2021

Impact Of A Standardized Situation, Background, Assessment, And Recommendation Tool On Satisfaction And Communication In The Perioperative Area, Salomy Abraham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEffective communication among health care providers is critical to maintain patient safety during the handoff of care. Communication breakdown during handoff can lead to medical errors and sentinel events. The perioperative area is a vulnerable area that is prone to communication errors due to the involvement of providers from various disciplines and the nature of the quick patient turnovers within the perioperative area. To ensure proper communication during the handoff in the perioperative area, a unit-specific handoff tool is required. The focus of the project was to implement a standardized situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (SBAR) communication tool in the …


Service Members’ Perspectives On Veteran Homelessness In Maryland And Virginia, Olasunkanmi G. Amosu Jan 2021

Service Members’ Perspectives On Veteran Homelessness In Maryland And Virginia, Olasunkanmi G. Amosu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homelessness among military veterans (HAMV) is a protracted problem. In November 2009, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs pledged to end the issue, but almost 12 years later, HAMV persists despite various solutions proposed. In January 2020, 37,252 veterans were reported as experiencing homelessness in the United States. The creation of previous solutions did not include the perspectives of service members. The purpose of this study was to bridge this gap in knowledge by discovering the views of service members on why veteran colleagues experience homelessness. The theoretical framework for this study was Allport’s trait theory. A qualitative case study …


Developing A Clinical Practice Guideline For Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Michelle Janise Berkley-Brown Jan 2021

Developing A Clinical Practice Guideline For Colorectal Cancer Screening In Primary Care, Michelle Janise Berkley-Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women combined. CRC screening is an effective way to reduce mortality and morbidity related to the disease. Practitioners within primary care practices can play an essential role in encouraging people to be screened. Yet, CRC screening rates remain low in primary care practices. Evidence-based strategies are available to help practitioners improve CRC screening activities and improve screening rates. The lack of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) with strategies to help improve CRC screening interventions was identified as a practice gap for …


Workplace Spirituality, Organizational Ethics, And Conscious Leadership, Tasha Dufrene Jan 2021

Workplace Spirituality, Organizational Ethics, And Conscious Leadership, Tasha Dufrene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem of organizational ethics was addressed by examining the relationship between organizational ethics, workplace spirituality, and conscious leadership as a catalyst for positive social change. Spiritual leadership theory and social learning theory provided the theoretical frameworks for this study. Both theories provided a theoretical understanding of how learned social behaviors and leadership have an impact on organizational culture. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to understand the relationship between workplace spirituality, organizational ethics, and conscious leadership. It is important to understand the relationship between workplace spirituality, organizational ethics, and conscious leadership because the negative effects of low …


The Power Of Exogenous Variables In Predicting West Nile Virus In South Carolina, Christopher Lee Glaze Jan 2021

The Power Of Exogenous Variables In Predicting West Nile Virus In South Carolina, Christopher Lee Glaze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the availability of medical data, environmental surveillance tools, and heightened public awareness, West Nile Virus (WNv) remains a global health hazard. Reliable methods for predicting WNv outbreaks remain elusive, and environmental health managers must take preventive actions without the benefit of simple predictive tools. The purpose of this ex post facto research was to examine the accuracy and timeliness of exogenous data in predicting outbreaks of WNv in South Carolina. Decision theory, the CYNEFIN construct, and systems theory provided the theoretical framework for this study, allowing the researcher to broaden traditional decision theory concepts with powerful system-level precepts. Using …


First-Time Participant Experiences Of Socioecological Learning Opportunities In An Environmental Education Program For Adults, Kevin Jenson Jan 2021

First-Time Participant Experiences Of Socioecological Learning Opportunities In An Environmental Education Program For Adults, Kevin Jenson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many environmental education programs struggle to influence participants towardbehavior that benefits nature and society because their presentation of information is isolated from the social and ecological context where it must be applied. Empirical studies have suggested a link between long-term behavior change and integrated socioecological experiences that influence a person’s sense of identity in connection with nature and society, but few studies have described what socioecological learning opportunities might look like. The purpose of this qualitative basic design study was to explore how first-time adult participants described their experiences of integrated socioecological learning opportunities in a short-term, immersive, community-based, environmental …


Factors For Consideration In A Plan For Terrestrial Oil Disaster Mitigation, Olaniyi O. Oyebode Jan 2021

Factors For Consideration In A Plan For Terrestrial Oil Disaster Mitigation, Olaniyi O. Oyebode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oil spills, are common disasters associated with hydrocarbon exploration and production, can be devastating and severely impact water quality, which can be detrimental to human life and the environment. One of the primary objectives of oil spill planning and response, aside from protecting human beings, is to reduce the environmental consequences of spills and cleanup efforts. This objective is best achieved by responders identifying sensitive resources ahead of time to establish protection priorities and select cleanup strategies. When a plan is well situated, within the limited hours available to respond, responders will not have to contact all of the various …


Interpersonal Conflict And Work-Related Stress Among Correctional Officers, Katarzyna Sowa-Lapinskas Jan 2021

Interpersonal Conflict And Work-Related Stress Among Correctional Officers, Katarzyna Sowa-Lapinskas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increasingly, research has been conducted on the penal system, yet few researchers have focused on correctional staff. Due to the nature of their work, correctional officers (COs) experience a high degree of stress that is inmate related, occupational, organizational, and psycho–social. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the work experiences of COs in rural correctional facilities in Alaska and to learn how correctional staff perceive and mitigate work-related stress stemming from interpersonal conflict. The theoretical framework for this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional theory of stress and coping. Data were collected using semistructured interviews conducted …


Amenity Migrations And Gentrification Among Low-Income Residents Of Rural North Carolina Seeking Education Or Lifelong Learning, Lenora Ellen Attles-Allen Jan 2021

Amenity Migrations And Gentrification Among Low-Income Residents Of Rural North Carolina Seeking Education Or Lifelong Learning, Lenora Ellen Attles-Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSixty-four percent of North Carolina's growth is due to migration, translating into approximately 86,200 migrants residing in the state. Amenity migrations (the relocation of specific populations into sometimes, low-income, rural communities of people) have given rise to changes in many residents' lived experiences related to North Carolina communities seeking education or lifelong learning. Many older adults seek lifelong learning education that is affected by amenity migrations. As new technologies and socioeconomic changes emerge, baby boomers may strive to compete with millennials for jobs and domestic stability. The purpose of this heuristic, phenomenological study was to understand the daily, lived financial …


Attitudes Of Marriage And Divorce In Adult Children Of Gray Divorce, Brittany M. Freeze Jan 2021

Attitudes Of Marriage And Divorce In Adult Children Of Gray Divorce, Brittany M. Freeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Divorce over the age of 50 years is called gray divorce and has been steadily on the rise. Past studies have shown the impact divorce can have on children regarding attitudes toward marriage and divorce, but research has not investigated the attitudes of adult children whose parents divorce late in life. An intrinsic, single case study was done using eight participants who were adult children of gray divorce. Semi-structured interviews were completed, guided by the principles of social learning theory. Data were analyzed into codes, categories, and then into seven overarching themes using categorical aggregation. Six themes regarding the attitudes …